- Back in 2009, Guido was a good example of what made dubstep so exciting, part of Bristol's "purple" crew that made unprecedentedly colourful takes on the stuff. Since his Punch Drunk debut album Anidea he's gone somewhat silent, but he re-emerges in a big way with his new label State of Joy.
Not much has changed in Guido land: these are dubstep tracks to be sure, and there's still the curious mix of heaving dynamics and maximalism that defines his best work. "Micro X" has basslines that veer between sub and fuzz, MIDI horns, bubbling synths and even a sitar sample. Flipside "Vessel Dogs" hones in on his considerable R&B side with its cheeky melodies, throwing in crisp string samples to add that little touch of medievalism. Sure, sticking to your guns isn't always the most exciting route to go, but when you've got a sound as distinct as Guido's, anything but refinement would've been a mistake. It's a promising first release for yet another new label to pop out of Bristol.
Tracklist A Micro X
AA Vessel Dogs